Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence – R. F. Kuang (Harper Voyager, 2022)
An imaginative novel exploring language, knowledge, power and the enduring influence of ideas.
Being and Time – Martin Heidegger (Harper Perennial Modern Thought)
One of the twentieth century’s great philosophical works, exploring time, mortality and authentic human existence.
Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long & Well You Live – Becca Levy (William Morrow, 2022)
Challenges misconceptions about ageing using scientific research.
The Blind Watchmaker – Richard Dawkins (Penguin Books)
A clear and influential explanation of evolution by natural selection, presenting the scientific case against intelligent design.
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark – Carl Sagan (Ballantine Books)
A classic exploration of scientific scepticism, reason and evidence.
The Discovery of Heaven – Harry Mulisch (Viking)
A novel weaving together science, philosophy and theology in the search for meaning.
Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media – Jacob Mchangama (2022)
A compelling history of free speech from ancient Greece to the digital age.
The Name of the Rose – Umberto Eco (Vintage)
A beautifully written historical novel where reason, evidence and intellectual curiosity are tested against faith, mystery and superstition.
Rethinking Free Speech – Peter Ives (2024)
A contemporary exploration of free speech, hate speech and the philosophical foundations of open debate.
Sophie’s World – Jostein Gaarder (Phoenix)
A captivating introduction to philosophy through the eyes of a curious teenager.The library
Books on The Coffee Table
An Immense World – Ed Yong (The Bodley Head, 2022)
An extraordinary exploration of how other creatures perceive reality—and what it reveals about the limits of human knowledge.
The Art of Looking Sideways – Alan Fletcher (Phaidon Press)
A visually rich collection of ideas, quotations, observations and visual puzzles that encourages readers to challenge assumptions and see familiar things from unexpected perspectives.
The Book of Trees: Visualizing Branches of Knowledge – Manuel Lima (Princeton Architectural Press)
A visually stunning exploration of how we organise ideas, memory and knowledge through the image of the tree.
Lapham’s Quarterly (Founded by Lewis H. Lapham, Bard College)
A richly illustrated journal exploring timeless themes through the words of history’s greatest thinkers.
On the Origin of Species: Illustrated Edition – Charles Darwin (Taschen)
A beautifully illustrated edition of Darwin’s revolutionary scientific classic.